Book Review of Painting Wonder
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The Children’s Book Review
Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
Written and Illustrated by Katie Wray Schon
Ages: 5-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Waxwing Books (2024) | ISBN: 9781956393156
What to Expect: Art, imagination, India, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and reading.
This beautifully illustrated picture book introduces readers to the woman behind some of the most iconic artwork in fantasy literature—the illustrations of the original Narnia books.
Pauline grew up in a magical land full of exotic animals, bright colors, and beautiful landscapes—a land called India. However, as any fairy tale will tell you, you cannot stay in a magical land forever, and soon Pauline is whisked away to dreary England, a place that is cold, grey, and filled with school rooms and bullies.
However, Pauline knows a way to escape back to the magic of her childhood – through books and art! Even when WWII began, the books that fueled her imagination and the art that allowed her to bring her imaginings to life made even the horrors of wartime bearable. But it’s not until she meets two exceptional authors, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, that her art can find wings to bring magical lands to children worldwide.
Baynes is presented as a relatable character whose quiet, dreamy perseverance with the art she loved enabled her to serve her country as well as herself. By emphasizing the roadblocks Baynes overcame to finally reach the pinnacle of her career as an illustrator, the story helps readers understand that it is okay if your path through life is not straight and simple.
Fittingly, the artwork illustrating the book is equally creative, using wordplay, clever framing, and perspective to underscore the meaning in the sparse, precise text. Drab earth tones for the real world contrast strikingly with bright, jewel-like colors that invite the reader into the magic of Baynes’ imagination, vividly illustrating the power books can have to bring magic to life. At the end of the book, a 2-page bibliography provides readers with more detail about Baynes’ life, including a selection of authentic photographs, while a bibliography offers further scope to learn about the artist.
Painting Wonder is a magical biography of a truly magical illustrator.
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About the Author
Katie Wray Schon is an author and illustrator who loves making beautiful books. She grew up in Rhode Island but now lives in Texas, where she can usually be found with a paintbrush in hand. She has a wonderful husband and three inspiring children. Together, they love art, biking, and reading books about magical lands.
For more information, visit https://waxwingbooks.com/.
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